Bedford Council Accepts $50,000 Donation for Skatepark; Council to Consider State Grant Application

The Bedford Town Council on May 21 unanimously accepted a $50,000 donation from the Archibald Foundation to support design, maintenance and reconstruction of the town skateboard park.

The money is “additional $50,000,” said Rick (staff member), noting the park team had already received $50,000 from the same foundation last year and that the Friends of the Skateboard Park have raised about $100,000 in donated funds so far.

That fundraising will be folded into next steps: the Friends have requested that the town pre-authorize a grant application to the state for up to $800,000 for a full rebuild, Rick said. The state application requires a 50% local match; council members and staff said the town’s previously raised funds and prior expenditures made within three years could count toward that match.

“Assuming you accept it, the additional $50,000 can go towards the $400,000 matching funds, including the money that has been spent that can also go towards the match as long as it's been within the last three years,” Rick said.

Councilor Scranton moved to accept the Archibald Foundation donation pursuant to RSA 31:95-b and authorize the expenditure; Councilor Kathleen Bemis seconded. The motion passed 6–0.

Councilors praised the Friends group and the foundation for their fundraising and said staff will place a formal authorization to apply for the state grant on a future agenda so the council can consider pre-authorization for the full $800,000 request.

If the council approves pre-authorization at a later meeting, staff said the application would be posted on the next agenda and the town would detail how existing donated funds and prior expenditures would be applied toward the required match.

The council’s acceptance of the donation authorizes the town to spend the funds on skateboard-park-related design, maintenance and construction per RSA 31:95-b.